🌩️ Storms, Sandstone, and Serendipity: A Family Adventure at Garden of the Gods

Approximately 45 minutes from our destination, the skies opened up into a scene straight out of a weather documentary.
My fiancé Ashley, our son Ethan, and I had set out for what we thought would be a peaceful Saturday hike—but nature had bigger plans.

🚗 Chasing Storms on the Road to Adventure

We’d already driven through the storm once, feeling the weight of the weather firsthand, but as we approached the southern tip of Illinois, the full picture came into view. A massive shelf cloud loomed ahead, stretching wide across the horizon in layered shades of gray. It was ominous, silent—except for the wind pulling toward it.

Ethan jumped out of the truck in awe, snapping photo after photo with excitement. The sky was calm in that eerie way that only comes before something wild.

When we passed through the system again, the rain came hard and steady. Thunder rumbled overhead. We never had to pull over, but the roads were soaked, and the atmosphere felt like something out of a storm chaser’s reel.

As we got closer to Garden of the Gods, the landscape began to shift. On both sides of the road, water stretched for what felt like miles—flooded fields, submerged marshlands, and isolated structures rising out of it like forgotten islands. Some side roads dipped down into the water and disappeared. You could still see debris from earlier flooding lining the edges of the pavement.

🏞️ Arrival at Garden of the Gods

As we climbed the winding road up toward the park, our ears popped from the elevation change. The sandstone formations started to reveal themselves between the trees, and the only thing between us and the steep drop-offs were patches of dense woods. There were guardrails here and there, but mostly, it was just nature and a sense of height that made you hold your breath a little.

We arrived to clear skies, fresh air, and plenty of other hikers. Once we stepped onto the stone trail, the full beauty of Garden of the Gods opened up. Ethan took the lead, thrilled to explore. He found Camel Rock quickly—and made it his mission to discover every trail, game path, and hidden nook around the formations. He especially loved finding enclosed areas and side paths tucked away from the main trail.

Some parts were a little muddy, especially off the main path, but overall the terrain was solid. We didn’t have gear—just hiking shoes, water, and the energy to explore.

🌧️ After the Storm: Side Trails and Hidden Gems

The storm caught back up with us about 30 minutes in, and we ran for cover, laughing and soaked by the time we reached the truck. After waiting it out for about 40 minutes, the rain eased up and we headed back out.

This second hike was even better. Water streamed down some of the rocks. As we walked beneath the evergreens—likely cedar trees—drops of rain still fell lightly through the branches. Trees grew straight out of the rock, and the sandstone itself looked like it had been carved by an artist.

Ethan kept leading the way, and even got Ashley to follow us onto some trickier trails. I helped her over a few of the tougher spots, but we all kept pace. There were no animals in sight, but the game trails told their own stories.

One moment stopped us completely—standing atop a central sandstone outcrop, formations rising on both sides, looking out over a sprawling valley of green. I grabbed a panorama of it, hoping to capture even a fraction of what it felt like to be there.

🍔 Wrapping It All Up

After about two miles of climbing and exploring, we wrapped up the day with burgers in Equality, IL. The food hit the spot, even if the service didn’t. We talked about our favorite parts of the day, from the flooded roads to Ethan’s trail leadership. We even made a plan to do a trip like this once a month.

We considered crossing into Kentucky, but with another 45 minutes of driving tacked on, we decided to call it. Ashley and Ethan crashed in the car. I drove the five hours back, audiobook playing, the quiet settling in after a day we’ll never forget.

If I had to sum it all up in one word?
Serene.

#PiercySells #GardenOfTheGodsIL #IllinoisAdventures #ShawneeNationalForest #FamilyHikes #StormChasing #HikingLife #ExploreIllinois #NatureAfterTheStorm #MidwestViews #LocalRealtor #RealPeopleRealAdventures